Page 60 of Safe at Home

“I’m glad you were there for her. Baby, are you ok? How far apart are the contractions?”

“I don’t know,” Molly said, and I could hear she was breathing hard. “Not consistent, but my doctor still wanted me to get checked out. Tyler, it’s too early for them to come. I’m only thirty-one weeks along. What if something happens to them?”

“Baby, try to calm down and breathe. I know it’s early, and if they have to be born now, it wouldn’t be ideal. With technology and modern medicine these days, they would have a fighting chance.” I didn’t want to tell Molly, but I was scared, too.

I went into the common room where Evan was still playing the video game. “Hey, man, do you think I could borrow your phone?”

“Sure,” Evan said and handed me his phone without a second thought. “Everything okay?”

“My wife is having labor pains, and her brother is taking her to the hospital. I want to let Coach Berger know in case I need to miss the game tonight. Can you bring up his number? I don’t want to end the call with her.”

“Damn, that sucks. Hopefully, she’ll be okay. Just so you know, Jim Berger is a hard-ass and won’t let you go home, so I wouldn’t even ask. Especially not when we’re half a game out,” Evan said. “When my wife had our baby, I got one day of paternity leave after Scarlet was already born. Then, I had to come back. At least, you’re close to the end of the season.”

“Fuck! This sucks!” I cried out.

“Ty, it’s okay. Dom is with me. We’ll keep you updated. They need you to win the game and move up in the standings. I get it,” my wife said through the phone speaker.

“Damn, you’re a lucky fucker,” my roommate said. “My wife was not as understanding.”

“I am lucky,” I agreed with him. “It just sucks I can’t be with her. It should be me and not her brother.”

“I’ve got her, man. Just play your best, and I’ll keep you updated,” Dominic said.

“What about your game tonight?” I asked.

“The Raptors aren’t in playoff contention anymore, so it’s not a big deal. Plus, I already told Snyder I was done. I’m retiring after this season. I’ve been looking for agencies to hire me that will let me bring you and some others as clients. That is, if you’ll still use me.”

“Hell, yeah, I want you to be my agent!” I said.

I heard Molly groan as another contraction hit. “Maybe talk less and drive faster?”

“Do not drive faster!” I demanded. “You get her there safely!”

“I’m only going twenty over the speed limit,” Dominic said.

“What?!” I practically roared. “That’s my wife and babies. Slow the fuck down, asshole!” I ran to my room and grabbed my suitcase. “I don’t care if they fine me or if I have to quit playing. I’m on my way.”

“Ty! Stop! Dom was joking. He’s going five below. He’s being just as careful as you would be,” Molly practically yelled.

I sagged in relief and sat down on my bed. “Thank fuck for that. I was going to kill him.”

“We’re at the hospital now. He’s dropping me off at the front. A nurse is already waiting at the door with a wheelchair, thanks to Meadow.”

“Keep in touch. I need an update at least every hour.”

“I will keep you updated every half hour, Stone,” Dominic said.

“Bye, Tyler. I love you,” Molly said.

“Thanks, Dom. I love you, too, Molly! Tell those babies of ours to wait at least another week so their daddy can be there when they are born.”

After I hung up the phone with my wife I paced around my room and knew I needed to calm down. I called one friend I knew who would understand and would be there for me.

“¡Hola!”

“Hi, Cruz, I need you, friend!”

“Tyler? Amigo! Hi! What is going on?”

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